All Beginnings Are Difficult

The 40 ft medical container supposed left Tema yesterday but still no sign of it. Hopefully, it will come intact. The Ghana drug department confiscated one carton of eye drops which they said had expired. I've been introducing myself at the hospital and everyone has been quite receptive. Interestingly, of the twelve doctors on staff, only four are Ghanaian; the rest are Egyptian or Cuban. The hospital housing that we were shown was sub-standard and we may have to obtain private housing to find clean, acceptable living conditions. We're in the rainy season now which brings on the mosquitoes and malaria. Around the hospital grounds, I've been seeing a few men with goiters which should be evaluated. There is an Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic run by an ENT nurse, seeing non-referred walk-in patients daily. However, the patients do not come in until very sick. With what little time I've spent there so far, I've seen significant pathology. The next few days I should be very busy unloading, securing, and organizing the otolaryngology equipment from the container. As we are now in temporary quarters, it is difficult to add to this blog at the present time.

Accra,Ghana

We arrived Wednesday, July 11, via KLM at Accra's Kotoka National Airport at 6pm to find two medical suitcases missing. By nine o'clock the missing pieces showed up, we cleared customs ( no problem) and were met by a driver of the Good Shepherd Home in Abeka/Accra. The accommodations are great and we slept soundly. We had spent the six hour layover in Amsterdam seeing the canals. Friday, Cyndy and I were shown the ear, nose and throat department at Korle-Bu Hospital, Accra by Dr. Kitcher, department head, who has done a lot of work and has an excellent facility. Later we visited the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Elias Sory,who warmly greeted us and also made us feel welcome. The department has a Zeiss microscope in the clinic, but one optic is opaque and they can use only one eye. The department does not have loops, telescopes for laryngeal or sinus surgery. The physicians do a sub-labile approach to the pituitary using the microscope. There are no prosthesises for stapedectomies or cochlear implants. Korle-Bu Hospital, with the Ghana Medical School, is the premiere institution in the country. Sunday we are sightseeing "Osu Street", the popular nightclub street of Accra. The container with medical equipment seems to be clearing the port and customs and we will depart for Tamale perhaps tomorrow.

Two Days Until Departure: Good-Byes and To-Dos

I still have to pack, send several emails, observe surgery and arrange for a wire transfer of funds before departure. It was nice today having all our four children visit. We will also see them tomorrow night before departure. My concern is clearing customs and safely getting through the airport. The airport always has some shady characters and it is a hurdle to pass.

Here is a picture of our family at my youngest son, Stephen's Loyola-Marymount University graduation. I hope they all visit Cyndy and me.

Teaching an Old Dog... How to Blog

Two days until the long-awaited departure! I've just helped my dad set up this blog to document my parents' adventures while in Ghana. They leave for Accra out of Newark Liberty Airport on Tuesday afternoon, July 10th. They'll stay in Accra for a few days until they can guarantee that the 40-ft container filled with all of their medical supplies has passed customs and will continue on safely to Tamale. This move has been a long time coming (retiring to Ghana is a bit different than retiring to Boca) and we are excited that they're finally on their way. Excited, but sad, too. Mom and Dad, we'll be thinking of you! Safe travels, and all our love to you both.

-- Beth Murphy, 24, New York, NY